Ski rope and reel assembly



p 28, 1965 R. M. WILSON 3,208,586

SKI ROPE AND REEL ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 8, 1962 INVENTOR EQBEET MM/msouCLKPM ATTORNEY United' States Patent 3,208,586 SKI RO'PE AND REE'LASSEMBLY Robert M. Wilson, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to DareProducts, Incorporated, Battle Creek, Mich, a corporation of MichiganFiled Feb. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 171,859 6 Claims. ('Cl. 206-53) Thisinvention relates in general to new and useful improvements inassemblies utilizing a reel, and more particularly to a novel reel whichhas general utility, but which is particularly adapted for use inconjunction with a ski rope.

Ski ropes are conventionally marketed in coil form without any means ofprotecting or storing same between times of use. Reels have not beencommercially used for handling :and storing individual ski ropes, andwhere they have been used for other things such as electric fence wire,plain and barbed, they have been commonly in the form of a sheet metalreel having a very small core of one to three inch diameter and sheetmetal side flanges. These are not satisfactory for ski rope use, and notwholly satisfactory for many other items. It was a recognition of thisproblem and the complete lack of a wholly satisfactory commercialsolution to same which led to the conception and development of thepresent invention.

Accordingly among the objects of this invention is the provision of anovel reel which is formed of a light weight plastic material and whichhas a smooth surfaced large center opening therein big enough for thereception of ones arm, whereby the reel may be readily carried and heldduring the paying out of a rope or other material wound thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel light weight reelwhich is formed of :a flexible plastic material wherein a moderateflexing of the reel side flanges may occur during the paying out of therope or other material wound thereon so as to permit the proper payingout of the material without damage to the reel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive lightweight reel which is formed, preferably, of plastic, such as linearpolyethylene, and which has a specific gravity less than water wherebythe reel will float and thus not be lost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel light weightplastic reel for rope or other material, the reel being of an extremelysimple construction and having a large central opening for the receptionof ones :arm, the reel side flanges further being provided withtransversely aligned pairs of openings which receive clips for holdingthe rope or other material on the reel during the shipment and storageof same thereupon, and which clips may be provided with a seal toindicate that the rope or other material carried by the reel is thatinitially packaged thereon.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel ski rope andreel assembly wherein the entire assembly is floatable so that theassembly cannot be lost should it be accidentally dropped overboard.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel skirope and reelassembly which includes a light weight plastic reel having a largecentral opening for the reception of ones arm or hand to facilitate theready handling of the reel, and the reel having wound thereupon anelongated ski rope which terminates at its end in a T-fitting, theT-fitting having connected thereto a connecting rope which, in turn, isconnected to a suitable handle unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel ski ropeand reel assembly wherein the reel, the ski rope, and fitting connectedto the ski rope including the handle or handles, are all formed of lightweight plastic material so that the assembly has flotation propertieswith respect to water.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel ski ropeand special reel assembly wherein the ski rope terminates in aconnecting rope and handle which combine to form a loop engageablearound the reel so as to lock the ski rope in place.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out theinvention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several ofvarious ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the ski rope and reel assembly.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 22of FIGURE 1, and shows further the details of the assembly of FIGURE 1,including the specific arrangement of the handle and connecting rope tolock the ski rope on the reel.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewtaken through the upper portion of the reel, and shows the manner inwhich the reel flexes moderately during the paying out under tension ofthe rope or other material reeled thereupon.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the manner in which theski rope and reel assembly may be utilized by a skier.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the ski rope and reel assemblyfloating in the water.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the end ofthe ski rope provided with a dual handle arrangement.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the upper portion ofthe ski rope and reel assembly and shows the reel provided with a clipfor initially holding the ski rope thereon in sealed relation.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 1 the ski rope and reel assembly, which is thesubject of this invention, the assembly being generally referred to bythe numeral 10. The ski rope and reel assembly 10 includes a reel,referred to by the numeral 11, having a ski rope 12 reeled thereupon. Asis generally shown in FIGURE 4 and best shown in FIGURE 6, the ski rope12 is provided at its outer end with an eye 13 carrying a T-fitting 14.In the form of the invention best shown in FIGURES 1 through 5, there isassociated with the T-fitting 14 a connecting rope 15 to which a widehandle 16 is secured. It is to be understood that the central portion ofthe connecting rope 15 remote from the handle 16 will be provided with aloop 17 the end of which is readily engaged over and held by theT-fitting 14 as diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 2.

Reference is noW made to FIGURE 2 in particular, wherein it will be seenthat the connecting rope 15, together with the handle 16, form a loopwhich is of a size to be snugly received over the ski rope 12 when it iswound on the reel 11. In this manner, the connecting rope and the handle16 serve to retain the ski rope 12 on the reel 11. Incidentally, whileit is preferred that the combined extent of the connecting rope 15 andthe handle 16 be a single loop, it could be such as to provide multipleloops within the spirit of this invention.

At this time, it is pointed out that it is preferred that the reel 11,the ski rope 12, the T-fitting 14, the conmeeting rope 15 and the handle16 all be formed of a strong light weight plastic material so that theski rope and reel assembly 10 will have floatation properties withrespect to water. It is preferred that this plastic material bepolyethylene, and with respect to the reel 11, and the handle 16, it ispreferred that the polyethylene be linear polyethylene. The T-fitting 14may also be made of polyethylene, or other suitable plastic, but ispreferably made of nylon, since it has great toughness and strength.

Particular reference is now made to the construction of the reel 11which includes a cylindrical web 18 having a pair of side plates 19integrally connected thereto. A convenient size of this reel for skirope is 10 inches in diameter and 2 /2 inches thick with a 2 inchflange. It will thus be apparent that the reel 11 is provided with alarge central opening 20 through which ones arm may pass or which may beengaged by ones hand, as is shown in FIGURE 4. The arrangement of theweb 18 and the side plates 19 is such that the reel 11 has a generallyU-shaped cross-section, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The side plates 19 are reinforced at the peripheral edge of same by anoutwardly directed peripheral rib 21, as is best shown in FIGURE 3. Thisrib is continuous about the peripheries of the side plates 19. Since thereel 11 is formed of a moderately firm but flexible material, it will beapparent that the side plates 19 may flex moderately when pressure isexerted thereon during the paying out of the ski rope 12 or any otherrope or other material wound thereupon, as is best shown in FIGURE 3.

Although the connecting rope 15 and the handle 16 serve to retain theski rope 12 on the reel 11, it is preferred that during shipment, thereel 11 be provided with suitable straps retaining the ski rope 12thereon. In view of this, the side plates 19 are provided with pairs oftransversely aligned openings 22, as is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.The openings 22 are disposed just radially inwardly of the reinforcingribs 21 and are in themselves preferably reinforced by rib portions 23,FIG- URES and 7.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 in particular, it will be seen that a strap orclip 24 is passed through each pair of openings 22. When desired, thefree ends of each strap 24 may be connected together by a seal 25 toindicate that the contents of the reel, as initially shipped, have notbeeen disturbed. Of course, it is only necessary to provide a seal onone of the straps when one or more are used.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 6 in particular wherein it will be seenthat the T-fitting 14 is provided with a connecting rope 26. Theconnecting rope 26, unlike the connecting rope 15, has the ends thereofprovided with separate handles 27. It is to be understood that thehandles or grips 27 are a matter of choice as compared to the handle orgrip 16. It is also to be understood that the connecting rope 26 and thehandles 27 are preferably formed of the same material as the connectingrope 15 and the handle 16.

At this time, it is pointed out that while the reel 11 is particularlyadapted for use in combination with a ski rope, it is not so limited.The reel 11 is readily suitable for the reeling of different forms ofrope or similar material, and may be placed to good advantage in fieldsother than that of ski ropes.

Although only a specific embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minormodifications may be made in the invention within the spirit and scopeof the invention, as herein described and illustrated.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of those explained, change being made as regards the apparatusherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A ski rope unit comprising a reel, a ski rope coiled on said reel, anattaching T-fitting on the outer end of said ski rope, and at least onehandle having a connecting rope, said connecting rope being releasablyconnected to said T-fitting, said connecting rope and said handleforming a loop snugly engaging around said reel to retain said ski ropethereon, at least said reel and handle being formed of plastic.

2. A ski rope unit comprising a reel, a ski rope coiled on said reel, anattaching T-fitting on the outer end of said ski rope, a pair ofhandles, and a connecting rope extending between and connected to saidhandles, a central portion of said connecting rope being releasablyconnected to said T-fitting.

3. A ski rope unit comprising a plastic reel with upstanding flexibleside plates, a ski rope coiled on said reel between said side plates,handle including rope means connected to the outer end of said ski rope,said reel having pairs of transversely aligned openings in the outeredge of said side plates, and a clip means extending through at leastone of said pairs of openings to releasably retain said ski rope on saidreel between said side plates.

4. A ski rope unit comprising a plastic reel with upstanding fiexibleside plates, a ski rope coiled on said reel between said side plates,handle including rope means connected to the outer end of said ski rope,said reel having transversely aligned openings in the outer edge of saidside plates, a clip means extending through said transversely alignedopenings to releasably retain said ski rope on said reel between saidside plates, and a seal for said clip means.

5. A ski rope unit comprising a plastic reel, a ski rope coiled on saidreel, handle means connected to the outer end of said ski rope, saidreel having a substantially uniform diameter tubular web withsubstantially parallel outwardly extending end plates having pairs oftransversely aligned openings, and a clip extending through at least oneof said pairs of openings to releasably retain said ski rope on saidreel, said clip being provided with a seal, said end plates beingreinforced around said openings.

6. A plastic reel for ropes or other freely coilable material, said reelhaving an annular outline in side view and a web with a smooth centralarm receiving opening therethrough, said reel having side plates andbeing of a unitary U-shaped cross-section, said web and said side platesbeing of substantially uniform thickness, said side plates also havingperipheral reinforcing ribs on the outer face of same, said side platesof said reel also being flexible and provided with pairs of transverselyaligned clip receiving openings adjacent said ribs, and reinforcing ribsaround said openings and cooperatively merging with said peripheralreinforcing ribs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 218,211 8/79Anderson 294-82 447,618 3/91 Miller 294--82 1,029,212 6/12 Moore et al20653 X 1,408,261 2/22 Brookhart 242-85.1 1,640,368 8/27 Obetz et a1.20659 2,472,248 6/49 COX. 2,580,900 1/52 Epstein 206-59 2,603,429 7/52Jaworowski 24285.1 2,894,620 7/59 Campbell 206-53 3,051,118 8/62 Calk etal.

3,092,068 6/63 Brownson ll56.1 3,098,463 7/ 63 Brown 242-86.5

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH P. STRIZAK, MERVIN STEIN,Examiners.

6. A PLASTIC REEL FOR ROPES OR OTHER FREELY COILABLE MATERIAL, SAID REELHAVING AN ANNULAR OUTLINE IN SIDE VIEW AND A WEB WITH A SMOOTH CENTRALARM RECEIVING OPENING THERETHROUGH, SAID REEL HAVING SIDE PLATES ANDBEING OF A UNITARY U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, SAID WEB AND SAID SIDE PLATESBEING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS, SAID SIDE PLATES ALSO HAVINGPERIPHERAL REINFORCING RIBS ON THE OUTER FACE OF SAME, SAID SIDE PLATESOF SAID REEL ALSO BEING FLEXIBLE AND PROVIDED WITH PAIRS OF TRANSVERSELYALIGNED CLIP RECEIVING OPENINGS ADJACENTS SAID RIBS, AND REINFORCINGRIBS AROUND SAID OPENINGS AND COOPERATIVELY MERGING WITH SAIDPERIPHERIAL REINFORCING RIBS.